Underrated Reads

The Notebooks of Sonny Rollins -Sonny Rollins, Sam V.H. Reese (Editor, Introduction)

Posted on April 22, 2024 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

In 1959, twenty-eight-year-old tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins disappeared for two years with the purpose of practicing and improving his craft. He wrote down his thoughts on technical aspects of the saxophone, “rethinking musical concepts”, as well as those on perseverance, and self-improvement and control. These notes are at the beginning of the book, The Notebooks of Sonny Rollins, and these notes continued through this century.

The notebooks will appeal to a niche audience, especially those who play the saxophone. However, as a jazz aficionado (particularly of the late 1950’s era), I found these writings instrumental in trying to understand the persona of this great jazz legend.

Rollins also wrote of his jazz contemporaries and influences, and later about his political and sociological thoughts and life in general. He included interesting sketches to amplify his notes.

Sonny Rollins is now ninety-three years old and has been considered “jazz’s greatest living improviser” by the New York Times. At only 166 pages, musicians and jazz fans alike will enjoy this book.

Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Non-fiction | Tagged jazz, music | Leave a comment

An UnderratedRead Revisited -All Who Wander – Joe Clifford

Posted on April 18, 2024 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

“I’ve spent years in therapy pushing dark memories into a black corner where, without light, I though the wild things could not grow. I was wrong. Left alone and ignored, I’ve provided ideal conditions for them to flourish.”

And allow others to manipulate us with their “truth”.

In All Who Wander, we travel between the present and the late 1990’s, just days before twenty-year-old Brooke Mulcahy disappeared.

Brooke lived with her father in a small Massachusetts town. He didn’t know how to deal with her wild behavior, drug abuse, and affection for the wrong men. Her mother, who had abandoned them a decade earlier, returned on the brink of death, accompanied by a baby boy. Brooke understood her mother’s desire to escape, but harbored resentment toward her newfound half-brother, Robert, or “Bobby.” The narrative in the present unfolds through the lens of Robert, now a thirty-six-year-old civil engineering professor, husband, and father.

When a young woman, claiming to be the daughter of Brooke comes to visit Robert, his life starts to unravel. Brooke’s disappearance was considered a cold case, as her body was never found. However, even authorities believed that she was a victim of a known serial killer. The problem for Robert though, was that it brought back excruciating childhood memories of his life as “Bobby”.

This intoxicating novel transports us to uncharted territories of human emotion and psyche. The characters are meticulously crafted, and we understand their motivations. Author Joe Clifford writes with haunting clarity, and we can feel the intense emotion of the characters as well as the smell of the stench and sweat of everyday life. The conclusion hits you as a complete surprise, and from start to finish, this book captivates, refusing to release its grip.

I seldom give a book the highest rating of “5 Bookmarks”, but All Who Wander meets the necessary criteria. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Posted in Revisited | Tagged crime fiction, family dysfunction, psychological drama | Leave a comment

Benetton: A true story – Francesco della Barba

Posted on April 15, 2024 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

Benetton: A True Story offers a fascinating journey through the history of one of the most iconic fashion brands of the 1980s. Written by Francesco della Barba, the Executive Vice-President of Benetton USA, this memoir provides an insider’s perspective on the rise and evolution of this Italian clothing company.

Della Barba assisted the company grow its business in the United Kingdom, United States and later in the Middle East. I found his perception of the cultural differences between the Italians and the British fascinating. In fact, he believes that American culture is somewhere in-between the two countries, depending on where one lives. He opened an office in Dubai in 1989 and uses engaging anecdotes to explain how their stores were successful despite such conservative religious dress codes.

There are so many fun and interesting stories within this memoir, some stranger than fiction. I enjoyed reading about the associates: some quirky, many trustworthy and some less than.

While the memoir is rich in content, I found the timeline a bit confusing. However, this minor flaw is overshadowed by the overall quality of the book.

Benetton: A True Story offers readers a captivating look into the world of fashion and business. Delving into the colorful history of Benetton, della Barba’s narrative is both entertaining and enlightening, making it an engaging read for anyone interested in the fashion industry or entrepreneurial success.

Posted in Bios and Memoirs, History, Non-fiction | Tagged Britain, Business, fashion, Italy, memoirs | Leave a comment

An UnderratedRead Revisited: January – Sara Gallardo (translated by Frances Riddle)

Posted on April 12, 2024 by J D Jung

(reviewed by JD Jung)

January (Enero) first published in Spanish in 1958, follows the daily life and thoughts of sixteen-year-old Nefer, who finds she is pregnant after a rape.

Nefer works on the family farm, and lives in the shadow of her sister and the other girls in the Argentine village. There seems to be no one she can turn to. She doesn’t get along with her mother and is afraid to confide in her local priest. She contemplates visiting the infamous woman who is known to perform abortions, though they are illegal.

The late Argentinian author Sara Gallardo wrote this in a very personal tone. Though we learn the story through Nefer’s perspective, her feelings are not static. We witness her confusion, but also her anger, jealousy, and desperation. Why couldn’t this “secret” inside her be from the man she loves, though he never notices her? For this, she despises the pretty wealthier girls from the village. However, through all of this, Nefer refuses to be a victim.

What is so fascinating about January is that the story is not only very human and genuine, but also significant in a historical, cultural, and sociological sense.

Posted in Revisited | Tagged abortion, Argentina, class, culture, Latin American Lit, rape | Leave a comment

An UnderratedRead Revisited- Invisible Storm: A Soldier’s Memoir of Politics and PTSD – Jason Kander

Posted on April 8, 2024 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

One would think that Jason Kander had it all. He completed his law degree from Georgetown University and was married to Diana, a girl he met when they were both seventeen. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives while still in his 20s. He was then elected to the office of Missouri Secretary of State. However, Jason lacked the most critical component of a happy life…mental health.

After the 9/11 attacks, he knew that he wanted to join the Army. So, upon completing law school he volunteered for a tour in Afghanistan as an intelligence officer. Though he only served four months, he came back home with a loss of identity and purpose that military life provided.

At home he suffered from compulsive behavior, constant anger, and later even contemplated suicide. He felt a need to completely control his situations and surroundings which functioned as a survival instinct abroad. He experienced survivors’ guilt and also guilt due to feeling he was so privileged compared to the others who served.

He was never present with his wife and son. Years later upon realizing that he was suffering from PTSD, he ended a mayoral campaign, and left public life to get the help that he needed.

Jason Kander takes us on a heart-wrenching journey through his fight with “The Monster”. He takes us to Afghanistan, and we meet the people he met and worked with. Within the memoir, Diana intersperses her perspective in her own words.

Though the entire memoir was engaging, I found his sessions with his therapist to be the most fascinating. Here we learn the basis for his feelings of despair and what he needed to do to “tame The Monster”.

I appreciate how Kander recounted his feelings and responses to events with honesty and sensitivity. I feel that Invisible Storm is not Jason Kander’s battle with mental illness and PTSD, but also provides some insight on what our veterans go through when returning to civilian life.

Posted in Revisited | Tagged Afghanistan, memoirs, mental illness, politics, PTSD, veterans | Leave a comment

Leader, Not a Boss: Start Leading Today: A No-Nonsense Guide for New Managers – Benjamin Babic

Posted on April 1, 2024 by J D Jung

(reviewed by John Heilman)

Leader, Not a Boss is great for new managers. Although the book doesn’t break new ground, it is a well-organized primer on effective management practices.

The author uses his own experience managing teams in sales and logistics to help demonstrate the difference between bossing people around versus effectively developing and managing a team of employees. The book provides real-life examples to demonstrate effective vs. ineffective techniques in the workplace.

New managers would learn a great deal from this concise book.

Posted in How do I do that?, Non-fiction | Tagged leadership, Non-fiction | Leave a comment

Me and The Times: My wild ride from elevator operator to New York Times editor, columnist, and change agent (1967-97) -Robert W. Stock

Posted on March 28, 2024 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by Jay Gendron)

Me and the Times is the story of Robert Stock’s journey from humble beginnings to the position of NYTimes editor and columnist. It is chronological, for the most part, but takes many detours into seemingly random musings about famous people he met along the way. Stock is a self-effacing storyteller and isn’t afraid to document both his successes as well as the disappointments in his life. His career path is loaded with considerable achievements, but he also is very candid about things that went awry, like the failure of his first marriage and the tragic loss of his daughter. These tales are told without sentiment–as you would expect from an esteemed print journalist–but still have profound effect on the reader.

This is an easy-going read, but at times seems to digress into weird, albeit interesting, stories about experiences encountered during his many travels. He does get serious on one topic: the sad state of journalism right now. At one point he notes that, “providing…information accurately is the traditional responsibility of journalists” but laments that he is angry and fearful that, “today’s so-called journalists…routinely and knowingly deliver lies instead of facts.”

This book is topical, timely, amusing and well worth reading.

Posted in Bios and Memoirs | Tagged journalism, memoirs | Leave a comment

Nein, Nein, Nein!: One Man’s Tale of Depression, Psychic Torment, and a Bus Tour of the Holocaust – Jerry Stahl

Posted on March 22, 2024 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

“Why stay in this country, listening to mere Proud Boy-esque neo-Nazis, when you could go to the source, to Poland and Germany, and experience the birthplace of actual Nazi-Nazis? How better to soak up fascist antibodies?”

There was more to it though. Novelist and screenwriter Jerry Stahl felt his life was falling apart. As a recovering addict grappling with divorce, this existential crisis led him to question the significance of his own struggles in comparison to the unimaginable horrors endured by those during the Holocaust. How many had the same worries as he did before they were thrown into the camps?

To try and find answers to these questions, he decided to go on a guided bus tour of the most infamous concentration camps. Auschwitz, Buchenwald, Dachau.

Through vivid descriptions and raw emotions, he navigates the grim reality of the camps while also exposing the unsettling commercialization surrounding them, from souvenir shops to snack bars.

What sets Nein, Nein, Nein apart is Stahl’s ability to seamlessly transition between gut-wrenching accounts of the Holocaust—which is often difficult to read- to uproarious humor, often directed at himself. His candid exploration of his own past and relationships with fellow tourists adds depth to the story. We learn how he comprehended the horrors and internalized this entire experience.

Stahl’s narrative remains poignant and engaging throughout. He confronts the horrors of the camps head-on, refusing to sugar-coat or sanitize the truth.

Another striking aspect of this memoir is Stahl’s inclusion of historical figures whom many of us may be unaware of, such as the infamous Ilse Koch, known as the “Bitch of Buchenwald. Additionally, the interview with Ben Stiller at the book’s conclusion adds an interesting layer to Stahl’s reflections.

Nein, Nein, Nein is a must-read for all. Stahl imparts this important lesson “Be grateful. Even if the ax is always falling.” He reminds us that the years between holocausts are the exception, and we must savor these moments.

Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Our Best, WWII | Tagged addiction, Auschwitz, Holocaust, Nazism, tourism | Comments Off

An UnderratedRead Revisited: Girl From Rostov – Shitij Sharma

Posted on March 13, 2024 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

“Everything adds up. Every second, every lie, every breath. In the end, it all catches up with you.”
“Even if you have little to do with it. Family, for instance.”

That’s what young Maya had to learn. Too many unanswered questions haunted her into adulthood. With the death of her uncle, she needed answers. Unfortunately, this would bring her friend Samar into the search and he was to find the truth of his own past.

Maya’s family came to the Soviet Union from Turkey. Orphaned at a young age, she was raised by her uncle, Majid. He came to the USSR when he was ten years old. The family lived in the Russian crime capital of Rostov, filled with slums and brothels.

Though they came from a family of pickpockets. Majid was to graduate to more ruthless crimes via the Turkish mafia. It would prove to be quite profitable but would affect his entire family.

However, when the political structure in the Soviet Union started to change, politicians and police alike refused to be victims of his extortion. In order to make money it was necessary for him to leave Russia. He felt that he must take Maya with him, not just out of love, but also out of guilt.

A friend who worked with the KGB found a place for them in India. With the disbandment of the KGB, Majid found more lucrative ways to make money, like selling illegal arms to the highest bidder.

The Girl from Rostov is a bloody crime thriller filled with espionage but also an emotional story with a touch of romance. Though still a historical crime novel, there are so many themes to the story such as learning about oneself, living in a new and distinct culture, and dealing with the issue of loyalty. The story starts out in the USSR but mostly takes place in India. This contrast adds to the plot, and both countries are colorfully described. It would have been easy for the author to fall into the trap of overly romanticizing the story. Instead, he takes a realistic approach in the relationship between Maya and Samar.

It’s not only the actual story that I found intriguing, but also the characters involved. They seem real with all of their flaws and are illustrated in detail. I find this rare for a book that is under 150 pages.

The Girl from Rostov is a must-read for those who enjoy fast-paced crime fiction. You won’t be disappointed with this one.

Posted in Revisited | Tagged gangsters, India, Indian fiction, Mafia, Turkey, USSR | Comments Off

The Notebooks of Sonny Rollins -Sonny Rollins, Sam V.H. Reese (Editor, Introduction)

An UnderratedRead Revisited -All Who Wander – Joe Clifford

Benetton: A true story – Francesco della Barba

An UnderratedRead Revisited: January – Sara Gallardo (translated by Frances Riddle)

An UnderratedRead Revisited- Invisible Storm: A Soldier’s Memoir of Politics and PTSD – Jason Kander

Leader, Not a Boss: Start Leading Today: A No-Nonsense Guide for New Managers – Benjamin Babic

Me and The Times: My wild ride from elevator operator to New York Times editor, columnist, and change agent (1967-97) -Robert W. Stock

Nein, Nein, Nein!: One Man’s Tale of Depression, Psychic Torment, and a Bus Tour of the Holocaust – Jerry Stahl

An UnderratedRead Revisited: Girl From Rostov – Shitij Sharma

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